Weft thread selecting and handling means for gripper shuttle loom

ABSTRACT

Shuttle loom weft thread handling mechanisms cooperating to cut, hold and facilitate shuttle pickup of the proper sequence of weft threads. A plurality of external thread spools supplies different weft threads at each side of the fabric to the shuttle which sequentially and reciprocally carries them through the shed between the fabric edges. At the conclusion of each shuttle pass, the leading end of the weft thread is dislodged from the shuttle pincer hook. Simultaneously, a weft feed means selects the next weft thread to be inserted and presents it to the cut and hold assembly which cuts it and grips the spool-attached end in position to be snagged by the shuttle pincer hook on the shuttle&#39;&#39;s next pass.

United States Patent [191 Laval [4 1 Apr. 17, 1973 [75] Inventor: Claude Laval, Castres, France [73] Assignee: Lebocey Industrie, Societe Anonyme,

Troyes (Aube), France 22 Filed: Jun/2,1971

[21] Appl.N0.: 159,140

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l2/l970 Laval ..l39/l25 Birmans et al 1 39/122 W Monge ..l39/l22 W Primary Examinerl-lenry S. Jaudon Attorney-Chittick, Pfund, Birch, Samuels & Gauthier ABSTRACT Shuttle loom weft thread handling mechanisms cooperating to cut, hold and facilitate shuttle pickup of the proper sequence of weft threads. A plurality of external thread spools supplies different weft threads at each side of the fabric to the shuttle which sequentially and reciprocally carries them through the shed between the fabric edges. At the conclusion of each shuttle pass, the leading end of the weft thread is dislodged from the shuttle pincer hook. Simultane ously, a weft feed means selects the next weft thread to be inserted and presents it to the cut and hold as sembly which cuts it and grips the spool-attached end in position to be snagged by the shuttle pincer hook on the shuttles next pass.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 1 7 1915 3121647 sum 2 OF 4 INVENTO R CLAUDE LAv ATTORNEY PATENTEUAPR 1 7 I973 SHEET 3 BF V INVENTOR I CLAUDE LAVAL ZZW (Y/M4 6 M JM 9 ATTORNEY WEFT THREAD SELECTING AND HANDLING MEANS FOR GRIPPER SHUTTLE LOOM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION threads are supplied to the reciprocating shuttle by a plurality of externally mounted thread spools located at both sides of the fabric. This invention is an improve- 1 ment on applicants earlier US. Pat. No. 3,543,809 issued Dec. 1, 1970 in which there was but a single thread supply spool at each side of the fabric.

In the present invention, it is an object to provide a programmed supply of alternating weft threads from a plurality of spools at each side of the fabric. It is another object of this invention to provide a weft thread feed mechanism which keeps the previously inserted weft threads separate from each other and which sequentially selects and presents the next weft thread to the shuttle. It is another object of this invention to provide an improved feed mechanism which can be programmed to select and present various sequences of weft threads to the shuttle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is an improvement 'over the conventional loom which has mechanisms for shedding, picking and beating up. Specifically, the improvement includes a selectively actuated weft thread feed means mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric. The feed means has ,multiple passageways for keeping separate the weft threads which have been previously inserted into the fabric from a plurality of thread spools. The feed means also has a selection and presentation mechanism for sequentially, in accordance with a preset program, selecting the next weft thread to be inserted, and presenting it to a cut and hold assembly which cuts it and holds the spool-attached end in posi-- tion to be snagged by a shuttle pincer hook on the shuttles next pass.

The foregoing objects and general description of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of the preferred and alternate embodiments shown in the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the right side of the loom, looking down and toward the fabric center from above, showing the preferred embodiment of the weft feed means at the moment of beating up; the shuttle and the cut and hold assembly being removed for purposes ofclarity;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view showing the shuttle in the right shuttle box, the previous left to right weft thread having already been released from the left pincer hook, and the feed means having selected the next weft thread to be inserted and being in the process of presenting it to the cut and hold assembly;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation detail view of the notched slide element of the feed means and the two stiff converging guide wires; 7 I

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the right side of the loom, looking down and toward the fabric edge from above, showing the alternate embodiment of the weft feed means; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevation detail view of the presentation finger and its actuation means.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a non-automatic shuttle loom is shown which is of the same type shown in US. Pat. No. 3,543,809. Reference should be made 0 to this patent because the present invention is an im provement thereover and many of the loom components are the same or similar.

In the loom of the present invention, the shuttle operation is generally as follows:

a. The shuttle, starting from the left shuttle box, carries the leading end of a selected weft thread in its left or trailing pincer hook through the shed, stopping so that the left pincer hook is substantially even with the right edge of the fabric.

b. The shed closes while the weft thread remains tightly held in the shuttles left pincer hook.

c. The batten, holding the shuttle, beats up the inserted weft thread and, simultaneously, means cooperating with the temple opens the left shuttle pincer hook to release the inserted weft thread leading end.

(I. The weft thread feed means, in accordance with a pre-set program, selects a previously inserted weft thread (which is still attached to its spool) and presents it to the cut and hold assembly located on the batten.

e. The cut and hold assembly cuts the presented weft thread and grips the end which remains attached to the spool. The gripped end becomes the leading end of the next right to left weft thread to bein serted.

f. The beating up is completed, the shed opens and the shuttle is kicked to the left, snatching in its right or trailing pincer hook the leading end of the weft thread from the cut and hold assembly. Steps (a) to (f) are then repeated.

In order to carry out the foregoing operation, the loom is provided with a right temple I mounted on horizontal rods 2 which are slidably carried by block 3 secured to a bar or breast beam 4 which spans the width of the loom. A left temple is carried on the other end of the beam 4 and, since it is identical to the right temple, it need not be described. A cover 5 is fixed to temple 1 to maintain the fabric in the desired position.

Weft threads 6, 7, 8 and 9 are supplied by external thread spools located adjacent to the side of the fabric and unshown adjustable braking devices engage the weft threads between the spools and the apertured guide 34 shown in FIG. 2. Similar spools and braking devices are located adjacent to the other side of the fabric. The number of spools may vary according to the woven pattern desired.

In order to feed the weft threads from their spools to the fabric, a weft thread feed means is mounted on the outboard side of temple 1. The feed means includes a channel 11 fixed to temple 1 and having a vertical slideway. Channel 11 has a cut-out portion located at its approximate mid-point and two small apertures located above and below the cut-out portion for anchoring two stiff converging guide wires 38 as can best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 3. A notched slide 10 is positioned in the vertical slideway of channel 11 and is adapted for vertical movement therein. Slide has notches cut into its vertical edge (furthest from breast beam 4). The number of notches equals the number of weft threads fed from that side of the fabric.

Near the upper end of slide 10 is a horizontal stud 35 which is straddled by the forked end of pivot lever 12 (see FIG. 3). Lever 12 pivots on spindle 13 which is fixed on temple 1 to raise the lower slide 10. Constantly urging slide 10 downwardly is a piston 15 which is upwardly biased by spring 14 against roller 16 on pivoted lever 12. In order to raise and lower slide 10, three levers 17, 18 and 19 are pivoted at their inboard ends to a temple-mounted horizontal pivot pin 20. Cables 21, 22 and 23 are pinned to the outboard ends of levers 17, 18 and 19, respectfully, and are engaged at their lower ends by a programming device (e.g., of the dobby type). Three adjustable set screws 24, 25 and 26 are secured in temple 1 and act as bottom stops for levers 17, 18 and 19. Thus, it will be seen that the set-up shown in FIGS. 1-3 provides for four vertical positions of slide 10 within channel 11. When no downward pull is exerted by the programming device on the cables,

spring 14 and piston 15 urge pivoted lever 12 upwardly' and slide 10 is depressed to its lowest vertical position. When cable 21 is pulled, lever 17 pivots downwardly until it strikes the head of set screw 24, as shown in FIG. 1. Lever 17 depresses the free end of pivoted lever 12 to raise slide 10 to its second lowest vertical position. Pulling cables 22 and 23 causes slide 10 .to be raised to its third and fourth lowest vertical positions, respectfully. At each slide position, one of the slide notches is located in alignment with the cut-out portion of channel 11.

Of course, if additional weft threads are to be inserted, the loom may be provided with a slide 10 having additional notches and with correspondingly more levers, cables and set screws.

To select and present the next desired weft thread, the feed means employs a presentation finger 27 which has a forked tip 28. Finger 27 slides in a horizontal slideway formed in temple 1 and is pinned at its end 29 nearest breast beam 4 to a pivoting arm 30 which pivots about shaft 31 fixed to temple 1. Arm 30 has an elongated aperture 32 cut in its lower portion which is wide enough to slidably receive a horizontal stud. A vertical drive member 33 mounts the horizontal stud which protrudes through aperture 32 and is retained therein by stu'd cap 36. Because of the vertical elongation of aperture 32, drive member 33 can be cammed vertically by cam 39 on picker shaft 10 so as to move into and out of contact with batten (or reed) 37 which moves in direction a as seen in FIG. 1. Thus, on every other shuttle cycle, the picker shaft cams drive member 33 upwardly to position it in the path of batten 37 during beating up. Batten 37 strikes drive member 33 thereby pivoting arm 30 about shaft 31. Arm 30 drives presentation finger 27 out of temple 1, past the slide notch and through the cut-out portion of channel 11, thus picking up the selected weft thread and carrying it to the position shown in FIG. 1. On the alternate shuttle cycles, drive member 33 is not cammed upwardly and therefore the batten 37 passes over the top of drive member 33. On the alternate shuttle cycles, the finger 27 remains within temple 1 as shown in FIG. 3.

The function of the feed means is to select the next desired weft thread and to present it to the cut and hold assembly which is shown in FIG. 2 only. The assembly is conventional and s the same as that described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,543,809. Specifically, the assembly has a block 112 mounting a shaft 115. Pivotally carried by shaft is a movable cutting blade 114 which is positioned to scissors with a fixed cutting blade 113 to cut the weft thread. A link 119 is driven by an unshown underlying cam shaft to cause blade 114 to scissors with respect to fixed blade 113. As this cutting action occurs, stud 118 on movable blade 114 bears against and depresses spring-biased rocker arm 116 which is also carried by shaft 115. This causes the spool-attached weft thread end to be caught between stud 118 and rocker arm 1 16 where it is held.

The shuttle 101 is also conventional and is the same as that described in detail in US. Pat. No. 3,543,809. Shuttle 101 comes to rest at either side of the fabric in a shuttle box fixed to batten 37 which swings to beat up the weft threads. Shuttle 101 has symmetrical ends, with only the left end being shown in FIG. 2. Screwed to the shuttle left end is left pincer hook 102 which has a rigid plate and a spring plate designed to snag a weft thread therebetween. As shown in FIG. 2, the leading end of the just-inserted weft thread has been released from the left pincer hook 102 and hangs freely.

In operation, after the shuttle has arrived in the right shuttle box (FIG. 2), the programming device causes the appropriate cable (here cable 21) to be pulled downwardly thereby lowering lever 17 against set screw 24. Lever'12 pivots the slide 10 moves vertically to position the slide notch holding the selected weft thread 7 in alignment with the cut-out portion in channel 11.

When shuttle 101 is in the right shuttle box, drive member 33 is cammed upwardly and batten 37 strikes drive member 33 to pivot arm 30 to drive presentation finger 27 through the channel cut-out portion picking up weft thread 7 as shown in FIG. 1. Weft thread 7 is presented to the cut and hold assembly where it is cut between blades 113 and 114. The end of the inserted weft thread is freed and the spool-attached thread end is gripped between stud 118 and rocker arm 116. Then, as shuttle 101 is kicked into the shed, the right pincer hook snatches the spool-attached thread end from the cut and hold assembly and carries it to the other side of the fabric. The stiff wires 30 confine the still spool-attached weft thread 7 therebetween and channel the thread back into the slide notch from which it was taken by finger 27.

The next cycle occurs with the shuttle in the left shuttle box. The right drive member 33 is not cammed upwardly and the presentation finger 27 remains in temple 1. When the shuttle again arrives at the right shuttle box, the programming device acts to position the slide notch at the vertical point where the finger 27 can select and present the next desired weft thread to the cut and hold assembly.

It will be appreciated that the specific elements of the preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. l3 are not the only possible means for accomplishing the desired results of this invention. For example, other means can be substituted for the cables and levers to raise and lower slide 10. Also, other means can be substituted for the drive member and pivoted arm to reciprocate the finger 27.

Accordingly, one alternate embodiment is shown in FIG. 4. In this embodiment, the presentation finger 27 and its drive means is the same, but the cables and levers have been exchanged for a pivoting slide 39 mounted on temple stud 40. A programming device pivots notched slide 39 to the desired position at which point finger 27 picks the weft thread therefrom for presentation to the cut and hold assembly.

Other substitutions include use of electromechanical driving means as well as other types of controls. Also, instead of a presentation finger, the cut and hold assembly could be provided with means for advancing it toward the slide on alternate cycles to grasp the selected weft thread.

The above description obviously suggests many possible variations and modifications of this invention which would not depart from its spirit and scope. it should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of structure specifically described or illustrated and that within the scope of the'appended claims, it may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described or illustrated.

Iclaim:

1. In a loom wherein the weft threads are supplied from stationery packages, selectively actuated weft thread feed means comprising:

a. a slide element having multiple spaced-apart open notches formed on an edge thereof for separately retaining the weft threads which extend from an edge ofthe loomed fabric to said packages b. a presentation finger having a thread receiving notch formed therein;

c. means for sequentially aligning the notches of said slide element which retain the next weft thread to be inserted with the thread receiving notch of said presentation finger in accordance with a predetermined program; and

d. means for repetitively actuating said presentation finger to cause it to engage and to remove the selected weft threads from said aligned slide element notches into a position to be next inserted into said fabric in accordance with a predeter mined program.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slide element notches are formed in a vertical edge of said slide element and said alignment means drives said slide ele ment vertically.

3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said presentation finger notch is formed at one end of said presentation finger and said actuating means drives said presentation finger horizontally.

4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes links oriented in position to be driven in cooperation with the loom batten.

5. Apparatus of claim 4 including cam means for raising and lowering said links into and out of position to be contacted by the batten thereby to actuate said presentation finger only on alternate shuttle cycles.

6. Apparatus of claim 1 further having a vertical channel in which said notched slide element is mounted for vertical movement, said channel having a cut-out portion formed therein through. which said presentation finger moves to engage and remove the next seguential weft thread from its slide element notch.

. Apparatus of claim 5 further having restraints fastened to said vertical channel above and below said cut-out portion to confine the weft thread to its respective slide element notch.

8. In a shuttle loom of the type having mechanisms for shedding, picking and beating up, improved means for handling multiple weft threads comprising:

a. a plurality of thread spools mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric for supplying weft threads thereto;

b. a shuttle having a pincer hook mounted adjacent each end of said shuttle, said pincer hook incorporating picking means for snagging a weft thread as said shuttle passes into the shed;

c. means for reciprocating said shuttle through the shed;

d. pincer hook opening means mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric for engaging said pincer hook after it has passed through the shed to free the snagged weft thread therefrom;

e. selectively actuated weft thread feed means mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric, said feed means including; a slide element having multiple spaced-apart open notches formed on an edge thereof for separately retaining the weft threads which have been previously inserted into the fabric; a presentation finger having a thread-receiving notch formed therein, means for sequentially aligning the notches of said slide element which retain the next weft thread to be in serted with the thread receiving notch of said presentation finger in accordance with a predetermined program; and means for repetitively actuating said presentation finger to cause it to engage and to remove the selected weft threads from said aligned slide element notches in accordance with a predetermined program; and

f. a cut and hold assembly mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric, said assembly having cutting means for cutting the presented weft thread and having holding means for gripping the cut thread end which remains attached to its said thread spool and for positioning the attached cut thread end whereby it is snagged by said shuttle pincer hook as said shuttle passes into the shed.

9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein said feed means and said cut and hold assembly cooperate, said out and hold assembly being mounted on the batten and rocking forward to remove the weft thread from said slide element passageway where said feed means has selected and presented it. 

1. In a loom wherein the weft threads are supplied from stationery packages, selectively actuated weft thread feed means comprising: a. a slide element having multiple spaced-apart open notches formed on an edge thereof for separately retaining the weft threads which extend from an edge of the loomed fabric to said packages b. a presentation finger having a thread receiving notch formed therein; c. means for sequentially aligning the notches of said slide element which retain tHe next weft thread to be inserted with the thread receiving notch of said presentation finger in accordance with a predetermined program; and d. means for repetitively actuating said presentation finger to cause it to engage and to remove the selected weft threads from said aligned slide element notches into a position to be next inserted into said fabric in accordance with a predetermined program.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said slide element notches are formed in a vertical edge of said slide element and said alignment means drives said slide element vertically.
 3. Apparatus of claim 1 wherein said presentation finger notch is formed at one end of said presentation finger and said actuating means drives said presentation finger horizontally.
 4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein said actuating means includes links oriented in position to be driven in cooperation with the loom batten.
 5. Apparatus of claim 4 including cam means for raising and lowering said links into and out of position to be contacted by the batten thereby to actuate said presentation finger only on alternate shuttle cycles.
 6. Apparatus of claim 1 further having a vertical channel in which said notched slide element is mounted for vertical movement, said channel having a cut-out portion formed therein through which said presentation finger moves to engage and remove the next sequential weft thread from its slide element notch.
 7. Apparatus of claim 5 further having restraints fastened to said vertical channel above and below said cut-out portion to confine the weft thread to its respective slide element notch.
 8. In a shuttle loom of the type having mechanisms for shedding, picking and beating up, improved means for handling multiple weft threads comprising: a. a plurality of thread spools mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric for supplying weft threads thereto; b. a shuttle having a pincer hook mounted adjacent each end of said shuttle, said pincer hook incorporating picking means for snagging a weft thread as said shuttle passes into the shed; c. means for reciprocating said shuttle through the shed; d. pincer hook opening means mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric for engaging said pincer hook after it has passed through the shed to free the snagged weft thread therefrom; e. selectively actuated weft thread feed means mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric, said feed means including; a slide element having multiple spaced-apart open notches formed on an edge thereof for separately retaining the weft threads which have been previously inserted into the fabric; a presentation finger having a thread-receiving notch formed therein, means for sequentially aligning the notches of said slide element which retain the next weft thread to be inserted with the thread receiving notch of said presentation finger in accordance with a predetermined program; and means for repetitively actuating said presentation finger to cause it to engage and to remove the selected weft threads from said aligned slide element notches in accordance with a predetermined program; and f. a cut and hold assembly mounted on the loom at each side edge of the fabric, said assembly having cutting means for cutting the presented weft thread and having holding means for gripping the cut thread end which remains attached to its said thread spool and for positioning the attached cut thread end whereby it is snagged by said shuttle pincer hook as said shuttle passes into the shed.
 9. Apparatus of claim 8 wherein said feed means and said cut and hold assembly cooperate, said cut and hold assembly being mounted on the batten and rocking forward to remove the weft thread from said slide element passageway where said feed means has selected and presented it. 